King Renly Baratheon

• Individual Picture Notes
  • Gethin Anthony as King Renly in HBO Game of Thrones

• General Notes
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    King Robert’s youngest brother, the 21-year-old Renly was  first appointed Lord and ruler of Storm’s End when Robert ascended the Iron Throne.  Though he is Robert's youngest brother, Robert gave Renly the Baratheon seat of Storm's End, rather than awarding it to Stannis. The lands of Storm's End are considerably larger and richer than those of Stannis's Dragonstone, giving Renly more power than his older brother. 
    
    Some say Renly is the handsomest man in the Seven Kingdoms, and others say he looked almost like Robert’s twin when Robert warred against the Targaryens.  Renly is handsome and charismatic; he wins friends easily, but he also strikes some people as frivolous.  Tall, broad-shouldered, with fine black hair and startling blue-green eyes, Renly is all a King should be -- a skilled courtier, charming to the extreme, and with a close connection to the Reach through his lover and former squire, Ser Loras Tyrell, the famed Knight of Flowers.  While they were both at Storm's End, Renly fostered Loras Tyrell, and the two began a love affair. 
    
    After Robert ascended the Iron Throne, he called Renly to King's Landing to be his Master of Laws on the Small Council.  The most fashionable man at court, it is said that Renly stinted nothing for his comfort.  His love of pageantry is well known, and he cuts a dashing figure at tournaments in his forest green armor with gilded antlers rising from his helm.
    
    While Robert lay dying, Renly approached Eddard Stark and suggested they seize control of the Iron Throne before Cersei Lannister could strike. Eddard refused the offer, and Renly left the city. Renly then married Ser Loras' sister, Margaery Tyrell, and declared himself King of the Highgarden.
    
    Through his charisma and familiarity with the Baratheon bannermen, he managed to win support from many houses, despite his brother having the better claim. Renly also won the support of the Tyrells through his marriage to Margaery.  He also kept his lover, Loras, close -- most notably by awarding Loras Command of the Rainbow Guard, Renly's equivalent of the Kingsguard.
    
    Renly spent a great deal of time moving slowly through the south, gaining support and men while waiting for the right moment to strike. He hosted tournaments for his men while the Lannisters and Starks wore each other down. This plan went awry, however, when Stannis marched against him. He met Stannis' much-smaller force and refused to back down from his claim to the throne.
    
    While preparing for battle with his brother's forces, Renly was slain by an animated shadow resembling Stannis. Garlan Tyrell later wore Renly's armor in the Battle of the Blackwater to make it appear that Renly's ghost had returned for vengeance against the kinslaying Stannis..